I’m terrible at getting around to watching films these days. This has been on the watchlist for a while, ever since it’s acclaimed release and I hoped it would live up to the hype. A dark comedic depiction of the terror inflicted by Stalin and those around him. As utterly bizarre and bad taste as that sounds, this is absolutely fantastic. The cast as incredible as you’ll see in any film, Buscemi and Beale especially, but really, everyone is flawless. The dialogue is hysterically delivered without even the hint of a Russian accent and the whole thing has an air of farce, but one surrounded with firing squads, power struggles and gulags. Only Simon Russel Beale as Beria really terrifies, with back stabbing, double crossing and a plot as twisted as the deceptions on screen, but really it’s Jason Issacs that steals the show, his entrance and performance is nothing short of majestic! Hello!!
8/10
